Trade unions meeting with hotel developer

Thursday

Apr 4, 2013 at 6:00 AMApr 4, 2013 at 1:08 PM

By Shaun Sutner TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The Cambridge businessman seeking to build an upscale hotel here as part of a $230 million slots emporium project is scheduled to meet today at U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern's downtown office with officials of the area's building trades unions.

The meeting between Richard L. Friedman, president of hotel developer Carpenter & Co., and leaders of the four most influential Central Massachusetts construction trades unions is a sign that the slots-hotel project could be picking up critical political support, according to sources.

Union members and activists, particularly in the construction trades, are known for taking active roles in political campaigns, organizing rallies, holding signs and getting people to the polls.

Mr. Friedman, a longtime donor to Democratic candidates and elected officials, has hosted former President Bill Clinton several times at his summer home on Martha's Vineyard.

Mr. McGovern, who will attend the meeting, is a prominent supporter of organized labor. He has known Mr. Friedman since the congressman's stint as an aide to the late Boston Congressman J. Joseph Moakley in the 1980s and 1990s, said Christopher Philbin, Mr. McGovern's chief of staff.

Mr. Friedman's partner in the undertaking, Chicago casino developer Neil Bluhm, also a prominent Democrat, is known for using union labor on his construction projects across the country.

Mr. Philbin said Mr. Friedman recently approached Mr. McGovern about hosting a meeting so he could brief the union leaders.

“We're keeping an open mind,” Mr. Philbin said, noting that no other elected officials or city officials will attend the afternoon meeting. “We're happy to listen. We don't think information is a bad thing.”

Scheduled to attend are Ray Beaudry of the plumbers and pipe-fitters union (UA Local 4); Jack Donahue of Carpenters Union Local 107; Leo Miller of the electricians union (IBEW Local 96); and John Scammon of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 63.

Asked what he thought of the slots-hotels proposal, Mr. Donahue said, “It all depends on the deal that's struck, if it's good or not.”

Contact Shaun Sutner at ssutner@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @ssutner.